ADDISON — For new Addison Village President Mike Votzke, local government is the driving factor behind making a better community.

After serving a term as a village council trustee, Votzke, 33, said he decided to run for village president when John Decker decided not to seek re-election.

Votzke, who was unopposed for the seat, said he is taking his role as the community’s new leader seriously.

“I know I am going to be in this community for a long time, and I wanted to make it a better place for my family,” he said.

Votzke said he is already looking at how to breathe new life into the village of 600 people.

One of the goals he has in mind is bringing businesses back to town.

“Small towns around us are growing,” Votzke said. “It will take some motivated individuals to help make the same happen for Addison.”

One of Votzke’s first issues to figure out as village president was what to do about two trustee seats on the council left vacant after the November election: seek two people to appoint to those seats, or reduce the council to a five-member board.

Votzke said the answer was easy: find people willing to serve.

“The more people you get involved in the community, the better,” Votzke said.

In addition to filling the vacant seats, Votzke said he wants to encourage residents to attend council meetings. He said the meetings are a place to not only keep people informed, but a place where they can express concerns.

“That’s what the meeting is there for, for people who have issues to let us know what’s going on,” he said.

Votzke, who also works for Coin-Op Canteen Services Inc. in Adrian and labors as a farmer, said he would like to revitalize the village’s planning commission, look into reviving a small annual community celebration similar to the Addison park festivals held nearly 30 years ago, seek grants for making improvements around the community, and design a village website.

A bandstand at Smith Park was restored three years ago and though there have been some small concerts held there, Votzke said he would like to encourage more, similar gatherings.

Votzke said he would also like to see the two tennis courts at Dick Sroufe Park converted into basketball courts, a change that he said should encourage more relevant sports activities.

Built more than 30 years ago, the tennis courts have simply not been used in recent times, he said.

“It will be ongoing process,” Votzke said about making his goals and ideas reality, “but I am up for the task.”